Indiana University Athletics
Tiawan Mullen Sees ‘Great Year’ Coming for Hoosiers
4/20/2020 9:30:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - More than three months later and it still burns for Tiawan Mullen.
That's a good thing.
Indiana's freshman cornerback can't let the 23-22 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl loss to Tennessee go. It drove him immediately after it happened. It drives him now.
"The motivation comes from losing by one point," he says. "It boils my stomach, but not in the wrong way. When we lose by one point, it's like, what could we do differently? How can we approach the 2020 season?
"There's always a chip on my shoulder. It's going to be a great year for us. Even though we are going through adversity right now, it's going to be great."
IU's 8-5 record was a huge step for a program that has had just two winning records since 1994 (it was 7-6 in 2007).
More is coming, Mullen insists.
"The next step for IU football is to keep building it. Showing everybody that we can be consistent and that after one year we're not going to go backwards. Keep moving others, keep working hard, keep buying in. Everyone believing in each other."
Belief is helped by leadership, something that Mullen tries providing despite his youth and the Covid-19-forced separation from teammates and coaches. Head coach Tom Allen provides the example.
"Coach Allen's always teaches us 'don't blink'. The guys who see me as a leader, I don't blink. I talk with them outside of football, ask how everything is going.
"Sometimes you do need a leader's take in football. They are your brothers and teammates. I've been calling, FaceTiming, asking how things are going."
Mullen's strong debut season (honorable-mention All-Big Ten, first-team freshman All-America by The Athletic and 247 Sports after leading the Big Ten with 13 pass breakups, and sharing the team lead with two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, plus 29 tackles) hints at his potential.
He expects better.
"I would like to improve on everything. There's always room to improve. I'm never satisfied with how I played.
"My freshman year, I could have been better. I can do more for the team. Specifically, I want to know what play the offense is running each time. I want to improve on being a vocal leader. Make tops plays when the team needs me, things like that."
It helps that, even though away from Hoosier coaches, teammates and facilities, Mullen has a good situation at his Fort Lauderdale, Fla., home.
"I do all of the workouts. I've been doing field work, weight lifting, running. For field work, I have a trainer who I work with, so I do it all.
"I'm always staying in shape. If we had a game this Saturday, I'd be ready to play."
Mullen is working out with his brothers, including Trayvon, who played cornerback at Clemson from 2016-18.
"It's the principle of being around them. I've been able to sit around and talk, not just about football but also about life and school.
"It's a great feeling for us to be grinding for the same thing. It's a great bond, trying different techniques from what we see and what we don't see."
Mullen has developed a solid relationship with Aaron Wellman, IU's new senior assistant athletic director for football performance.
"Coach Wellman is very communicative. He keeps in touch with everybody, dishing out the workouts and things like that. He's asking us what we need to work on, how do we feel?"
That's true of all the IU coaches during this long-distance situation.
"They tell us to stay safe with the coronavirus going on," Mullen said. "They've told us to try and stay in the house, keep your hands clean. They tell us, in case of anything, call us so that if at any moment if you feel any type of way, call anybody on our staff at any time of the day and you'll get answered. It's been great."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - More than three months later and it still burns for Tiawan Mullen.
That's a good thing.
Indiana's freshman cornerback can't let the 23-22 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl loss to Tennessee go. It drove him immediately after it happened. It drives him now.
"The motivation comes from losing by one point," he says. "It boils my stomach, but not in the wrong way. When we lose by one point, it's like, what could we do differently? How can we approach the 2020 season?
"There's always a chip on my shoulder. It's going to be a great year for us. Even though we are going through adversity right now, it's going to be great."
IU's 8-5 record was a huge step for a program that has had just two winning records since 1994 (it was 7-6 in 2007).
More is coming, Mullen insists.
"The next step for IU football is to keep building it. Showing everybody that we can be consistent and that after one year we're not going to go backwards. Keep moving others, keep working hard, keep buying in. Everyone believing in each other."
Belief is helped by leadership, something that Mullen tries providing despite his youth and the Covid-19-forced separation from teammates and coaches. Head coach Tom Allen provides the example.
"Coach Allen's always teaches us 'don't blink'. The guys who see me as a leader, I don't blink. I talk with them outside of football, ask how everything is going.
"Sometimes you do need a leader's take in football. They are your brothers and teammates. I've been calling, FaceTiming, asking how things are going."
Mullen's strong debut season (honorable-mention All-Big Ten, first-team freshman All-America by The Athletic and 247 Sports after leading the Big Ten with 13 pass breakups, and sharing the team lead with two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, plus 29 tackles) hints at his potential.
He expects better.
"I would like to improve on everything. There's always room to improve. I'm never satisfied with how I played.
"My freshman year, I could have been better. I can do more for the team. Specifically, I want to know what play the offense is running each time. I want to improve on being a vocal leader. Make tops plays when the team needs me, things like that."
It helps that, even though away from Hoosier coaches, teammates and facilities, Mullen has a good situation at his Fort Lauderdale, Fla., home.
"I do all of the workouts. I've been doing field work, weight lifting, running. For field work, I have a trainer who I work with, so I do it all.
"I'm always staying in shape. If we had a game this Saturday, I'd be ready to play."
Mullen is working out with his brothers, including Trayvon, who played cornerback at Clemson from 2016-18.
"It's the principle of being around them. I've been able to sit around and talk, not just about football but also about life and school.
"It's a great feeling for us to be grinding for the same thing. It's a great bond, trying different techniques from what we see and what we don't see."
Mullen has developed a solid relationship with Aaron Wellman, IU's new senior assistant athletic director for football performance.
"Coach Wellman is very communicative. He keeps in touch with everybody, dishing out the workouts and things like that. He's asking us what we need to work on, how do we feel?"
That's true of all the IU coaches during this long-distance situation.
"They tell us to stay safe with the coronavirus going on," Mullen said. "They've told us to try and stay in the house, keep your hands clean. They tell us, in case of anything, call us so that if at any moment if you feel any type of way, call anybody on our staff at any time of the day and you'll get answered. It's been great."
Players Mentioned
DB
/ FootballFB: Spring Game - Postgame Press Conference
Thursday, April 23
FB: Bray Lynch - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Drew Evans - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Nico Radicic - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21